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He described the result as a “big vote of confidence” after having called the elections to restore his authority amid corruption allegations.

These involved leaks that his wife, his chief of staff, and a minister had secret offshore accounts in accusations that remain under investigation.

"You have confirmed your confidence in the movement despite one of the most negative electoral campaigns in the country's history”, Muscat told supporters in Valletta on Saturday.

“Those who thought that the Maltese people would choose negativity don’t truly know the Maltese people, because the Maltese people choose positivity, optimism, energy, goodwill, unity and equality”, he said.

Simon Busuttil, the Nationalist Party leader, resigned after his defeat.

But he urged magistrates to continue their probes into the offshore leaks.

“The fact that Joseph Muscat won the election does not mean that what happened has now been erased. It does not mean that the crimes committed have been forgotten. I hope Muscat at least realises that politics have to be cleaned up”, Busuttil said.

Malta’s president, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the same day called on both parties to end their “aggressive and abusive language”.

The result clears a potential embarrassment for the EU, whose rotating, six-month presidency is currently being held by Malta.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, said in a letter to Muscat that: “Your result is a remarkable tribute to your leadership over the last years.”

Muscat, who is 43 years old, promised to cut taxes and raise pensions in his campaign, underlining the island’s mini-boom in his past four years in power.

He also pledged to legalise gay marriage, building his international reputation on civil rights.

Focus

Gay marriage was adopted in a snap vote at the German parliament on Friday. But lesbians and gays acquired this right after German chancellor Angela Merkel tried to sabotage the electoral campaigns of her opponents.